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Purpose of This Letter1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
Peter's linking of the prophets and apostles placed them on the same level of authority.Follow the commandments of the Lord and Savior, and the apostles which are now found in scripture.
The Coming Day of the Lord3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
Conversational Notes: We see mockers being mockers because they want their sexual sin, and it might be true, but it not usually fruitful in conversation with non-believers to bring this up.Paul's audience is believers.
Induction, Hume's argument1. Definition of a Miracle:Hume defines a miracle as a violation of the laws of nature. These laws are based on uniform and consistent human experience, like gravity, the behavior of light, or the consistency of physical objects.2. The Balance of Probabilities:According to Hume, when faced with a claim of a miracle, one must weigh the evidence for the natural law (which is based on consistent experience) against the evidence for the miracle (which is based on the testimony of a witness or group of witnesses). Since natural laws are supported by universal and consistent experience, they are highly probable.By contrast, a miracle, by definition, is a rare and exceptional event that goes against this established order, making it inherently less probable. Therefore, the evidence for the miracle must be extraordinarily strong to overcome the very high probability that the natural law remains unviolated.3. Testimony and Human Nature:Hume argues that human testimony is often unreliable. People can be deceived, misinterpret events, or have motivations like the desire for attention or to support religious beliefs that might lead them to fabricate or exaggerate accounts of miracles.Furthermore, Hume points out that reports of miracles often originate in "ignorant and barbarous nations," where critical scrutiny of such claims is less likely.4. The Principle of Diminishing Credibility:Even if multiple sources independently report the same miracle, Hume suggests that their testimonies do not multiply the probability of the miracle occurring. Instead, they simply add layers of evidence, each of which is still less probable than the natural law they contradict.Therefore, the more extraordinary the claim (such as a miracle), the more extraordinary the evidence needed to justify belief in that claim.5. Hume's Conclusion:Hume concludes that it is never reasonable to believe in miracles based on testimony alone because the improbability of the miracle outweighs the reliability of the testimony. A wise person should proportion their belief to the evidence, and since the evidence for natural laws is overwhelmingly strong, it would be irrational to believe in a violation of those laws without equally strong evidence.
5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. (contrast between formed out of water, and destroyed by water and then fire on Judgment day) 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
You have seen God work! Peter refers to creation, to show that God has been at work before.The scoffers deliberately put aside God's Word and then complained that God was not doing anything.
Creation options:Young
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